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"From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto His disciples, how that He must go
unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things . . . . . . . and be killed, and be raised again the
third day."
The prayer therefore takes no account of the implications of these events leading as
they do to the sacrificial work of Christ. It is not offered in the Lord's name and this
gives point to John 16: 24:
"Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My Name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy
may be full."
The prayer formed part of what they had asked hitherto, and as such it was a
continuation of prayer on O.T. principles, offered towards the Temple in Jerusalem.
"Have thou respect unto the prayer of Thy servant . . . . . which Thy servant
prayeth before Thee today: that Thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day,
even toward the place of which Thou hast said, My name shall be there: that Thou
mayest hearken unto the prayer which Thy servant shall make toward this place . . . . ."
(I Kings 8: 28, 29).
Hence Daniel's prayer in Dan. 6: 10:
"His windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his
knees three times a day, and prayed . . . . ."
The Lord ordained a place where He could be sought, a place where He had put His
Name, and this place must be duly recognized in approaching Him.
"Unto the place which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put His
Name there, even unto His habitation shall ye seek . . . . ." (Deut 12: 5).
The Lord Jesus Christ is the antitype of this meeting place and it is true for the present
time that, "No man cometh unto the Father but by Me" (John 14: 6). He is the One who
manifested the Father's Name and in His name only can prayer be offered.
"Giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God even
the Father" (Eph. 5: 20 R.V.).
Compare also Paul's prayer in Eph. 3: 14-21. The Lord's Prayer does not belong to
this period, being given at a time when type and shadow still prevailed, and when
Jerusalem was still the acknowledged place of acceptance before God. When prayer
`after this manner' is offered during the yet future Great Tribulation, it seems as though
such prayer will have to make due recognition of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, but
as given it makes no such recognition.
The Missionary Prayer.
Although the prayer will be applicable during the Great Tribulation, it must be
remembered that the period during which the disciples lived could have developed into
that time of trouble. Matt. 24: is so written as to demonstrate this. Also the book of